The lost children

Patna: After taking suo motu cognizance of "a distressing news report that appeared in India Today", the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Bihar State Human Rights Commission to probe the issue and ensure "appropriate action". The report had carried case studies of children who were trafficked in the aftermath of the Kosi floods in 2008.

An India Today report spurs the NHRC to seek a probe into child trafficking.

According to Ghuran Mahto of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a child rights organisation, over 12,000 children were trafficked to various cities after the floods. Though the Assistant Registrar's letter doesn't criticise the state's law enforcement agencies, he has almost made the assessment clear by quoting India Today-"A critical evaluation of the state's counter-trafficking initiatives reveals lack of coordination between the police and block development authorities who should be addressing the economic welfare of victims, real and potential." Meanwhile, the NHRC has already allotted a case number to this issue.

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